TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday stressed on the need for training in fighting agriculture related fire, which is crucial for the State.
Parrikar said that the fire services should work out mechanism to curb agriculture related fires, which are on the rise. “There are so many instances of Cashew plantations catching fire. Even there are fires to paddy fields because the practice of cleaning off the dried weed has stopped,” he said.
Chief Minister was speaking during a function on National Fire Service Day, organized by State Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services to pay homage to Firemen Martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the course of duty.
The theme for the year 2013 was the “Fire is Fire, Friend or Foe, We Decide.”
While hailing the fire force, Parrikar commented saying “the fire force is known for its discipline… Sometimes I feel that this force is little ahead of police force in its discipline”.
Parrikar assured all possible support for the Fire and Emergency Services department, in their task to save the lives of people.
Earlier, while addressing the gathering, Director of Fire and Emergency Services Ashok Menon said that department has decided to train rural volunteers in fire fighting and disaster management from the ongoing financial year onwards.
“We have a vision to go to the village panchayats and prepare rural volunteers who will be trained in various aspects of fire safety and disaster management,” he said.
Menon said that the mobile vans under central government scheme would be procured for training the rural volunteers.
Menon said that once the vans are available, the trainers would be going to each village panchayat and undertaking the training program. This would commence from this financial year, he stated.
As per the official date, the department attended 5628 fire and emergency calls during 2012-13, of which 2727 were fire related and 2901 were of non-fire related. The department has saved property worth Rs 493.93 crore during the last financial year.
During last financial year, the Goa State Fire Force Training Centre has provided training to 1990 people in various aspects of fire fighting, prevention and control. The new modern fire station buildings are set to come up at Valpoi, Bicholim, Porvorim, Pernem, Canacona and Cuncolim.
